The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-14
THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL.
HENRY S. IVES ARRESTED FOR
GRAND LARCENY.

Misappropriation of a Check for $780,
600 the Charge Against Him -Har-
pers Trial at Cincinnati Followed by
that of Assistant Cashier Hopkins
Heavy Failures at New York.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 1S.--The trial of Ben
iamin E Hopkins, late Assistant Cashier of
the Fidelity National Bank, began this
morning in the United States Court, Judge
Sage presiding alone. The court passed up
on the demurTers which had been argued,
and struck out six of the forty or fifty
counts which cover practically the same
acts The indictment as it remains was
stated in substance to the defendant 10 be
a charge of misapplication of funds of the
Fidelity National Bank and of making false
entries in the books of the bank. To this
the defendant pleaded not guilty. The
jurors summoned were then called and
sworn to answer questions touching their
fitness to serve on this trial. The slow
process of their examination then began.
Assistant District Attorney Bruce conducts
the prosecution. Warner Il. Bateman ap-
pears for the defendant.
A GOOD RECORD.
Hopkins is attended by his son and two
daughters, and Mr.. OKeefe, his son-in-law
He has been so well known in Cincinnati
by nearly all kinds of people that the court
room was again filled with spectators. He
refers with pardonable pride to the fact that
in his long semi-public life here, this is the
first time serious charge has been made
against him, and claims he can now prove
his innocence. The selection of the jury
was accomplished and the jury sworn before
the noon adjournment
Ten of the jurymen are farmers, one is
a stock dealer and the twelfth is a book
binder. Mr.. Bateman demanded the bill
of particulars of specific transactions upon
which all Of the offenses named i'll the first
count is made. The court will rule on this
tomorrow.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL SHOW.
Mr. Bruce, for the government, then
stated tnat he expected to show that Hop
kins at one time had misappropriated $500,
600 of the Fidelity Banks funds and $40, 900
at another; that he had drawn checks for
large sums for which he had no funds to
draw upon and that he had made false en-
tries on the books of the bank representing
81 ,000, 900 used in the Wiltshire wheat deal.
Mr. Bateman for the defense said that
they would prove that the defendant was
not aware of what was being done in the
bank, and that he signed improper drafts
when handed to him with others by Harper,
not knowing their nature.
DEALS IN WHEAT.
Frank A. Armstrong, now employed in
the Cincinnati post office, but recently a
broker, testified that in March last the de-
fendant met him ON Change and made an ap-
pointInent to meet him at Bowman's, where
Hopkins arranged TO have the witness buy
for him 100, 900 bushels in Chicago on a &c.
margin. The witness took the order and
Hopkins gave him a $4,000 draft of the
Fidelity Bank on the Metropolitan Bank of
Chicago. Hopkins said the deal was not
for himself, but for strong party whom
he could not name. Chicago called for
margins and the witness sought Hopkins,
who coulc give him no answer until he saw
his principal 1t was not until /. or II 80
O'Clock that Hopkins tod him to sell out
the wheat, which he did, making loss of
50, $50. He paid the proceeds to Hopkins
in currency at the bank, at Hopkins re-
quest.
A BROKER FROM CHICAGO
John T. Snodgrass, of Chicago, dealer
in grain and provisions, was next called.
He was asked to state conversation he had
with Hopkins in February last here, but
the defense objected. The jury was sent
out while the court inquired what the testi-
mony was, and then ruled it competent
Mr.. 6nodgrass went on to say that Hopkins
told him he was wanting some one in
Chicago to manage for a friend
of his who was amply able to
deal or "cornern wheat ''fhey," as he
named his unknown hacker or hackers,
wanted to buy on &c. margin and. give
New York exchange at the close every day
as might be required by the state of the
the market. The witness said he could not
close the arrangement until he went TO Chi
cago and consulted his firm. The next day
he had telegram from Hopkins signed
"Ben" saying: IF you can comply with
our conversation buy a million bushels OF
May wheat, and million more every cent
break"
The witness said this conversation oc-
CURED on Feb. %, last, and the telegram
was sent the next day. On cross-examina-
tion, he said he did nothing on that order
that he replied TO the telegram in person,
telling Hopkins that his firm wanted more
margin and must know who was his princi-
pal. Hopkins said there were others who
would do business on the terms he wished,
and so the matter dropped. The court then
adjourned